Where Manufacturing Matters

The Encore movement is a national effort to leverage the energy and experience of Americans who seek to fill community needs upon retirement or near the end of their primary careers. Launched in 2013 by the Cleveland Foundation, Encore Cleveland helps to connect and fund a network of organizations to provide experienced Greater Clevelanders with an array of meaningful opportunities in the community.

WIRE-Net’s Youth Programs, in collaboration with Max S. Hayes High School, were pleased to finish the 2015-16 with some great success stories from the Technical Corps Program (TCP) that made its debut in the machining, welding, and manufacturing design career pathways. Gary Dudich, a retired Journeyman Iron Worker, served as a Technical Corps member in the welding lab during the Spring semester.

Building the Next Generation of Technical Professionals

Ernie Kulik, retired Program Manager from Eaton Corporation joined the WIRE-Net Technical Corps Program (TCP) in January to assist students and teachers working on a RoboBots project. Students in the Precision Machining Training (PMT) class at Max S. Hayes Career and Technical High School will compete at the AWT RoboBots Battle on April 30, 2016 at Lakeland Community College. Ernie has been able to utilize his project management, manufacturing, and industry skills to facilitate the students' design and build of the team robot. The Technical Corps member assists the students in designing the robot and its weapons at school, and coaches the team in planning, maintaining deadlines, and constructing a documentation portfolio.